Concerts Photos
Kaleo Brings Icelandic Fire to History Ottawa
Icelandic blues rock band Kaleo played History Ottawa on Tuesday night, headlining a bill that also introduced the city to opening act the Pernikoff Brothers in the duo’s first-ever Ottawa performance.
Pernikoff Brothers Open with Storytelling Performance
The Pernikoff Brothers took the stage first, tasked with winning over a crowd that had never seen them play live in the city. The band built its set around a strong narrative thread, framing songs with between-song storytelling.
A highlight of the night came from their drummer, whose solos punctuated the show and drew some of the loudest reactions of the opening slot.
Kaleo Headlines with Focus on Music Over Spectacle
When Kaleo walked out, there was no need for spectacle, the band let the music do essentially all of the talking. Just a tight, focused set built around the thing that’s made them a global name: those vocals.
Guitar work added a bluesy edge throughout, and the band’s dynamic range, moving between restrained verses and full-band choruses, kept the audience engaged without relying on elaborate production or extended stage talk.
The Icelandic band will finish their Canadian leg of the tour in Prince Edward Island September 11th, before continuing their international tour into 2027.
New Venue
The show also served as an early test for History, Ottawa’s newest live music venue. The room handled both acts well, supporting the Pernikoff Brothers‘ more stripped-down sound as well as Kaleo‘s fuller electric set. Based on this performance, the venue appears well-positioned to become a regular stop for touring acts.
Tuesday’s show paired a promising Ottawa debut from the Pernikoff Brothers with a focused, vocal-driven headline set from Kaleo, all inside a new venue that proved itself capable of hosting both.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KALEO
PERNIKOFF BROTHERS
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport
Concerts Photos
Peaches Brings Performance Art and Pure Chaos to Vancouver
Despite Peaches, aka Merrill Nisker, being such an iconic figure of my millennial youth, I had somehow never seen her live. After finally catching her at the Commodore Ballroom on September 4, I’m still wondering what took me so long.
Part concert, part performance art and completely unapologetic, Peaches delivered one of the wildest shows I’ve experienced. The night started strong with Pixel Grip, one of the best opening acts I’ve seen in years. By the time Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” came over the speakers before Peaches took the stage, the Commodore was buzzing.
Peaches opened with “Hanging Titties” dressed in an absurd, head-to-toe costume covered in dangling phallic imagery, setting the tone immediately. From there came a parade of outrageous costumes, surreal visuals and choreography that seemed purpose-built to make anyone uncomfortable. There were hairy body parts, fetish-inspired outfits and enough costume changes to give an entire season of RuPaul’s Drag Race a run for its money.
Yet beneath the shock value, there was a clear point. At 59, Peaches continues to challenge expectations around gender, sexuality, beauty and aging. Her show is deliberately confrontational, but it’s just as playful.
The biggest moment came when Peaches stepped into the crowd and was carried across the Commodore, performing as fans passed her overhead.
The encore brought the legendary “Fuck the Pain Away,” followed by “No Lube So Rude,” closing out a night that was equal parts hilarious, chaotic and completely unforgettable.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
PEACHES
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Wave To Earth Bring ‘the pieces tour’ to Vancouver
By the time Wave to Earth took the stage at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena on September 4, Vancouver was already buzzing. A lineup stretched around the block as fans waited to see the South Korean indie-rock trio kick off the first date of their the pieces tour in the city.
The band’s stage setup immediately set the tone, arranged to look like a cozy living room, complete with windows that opened onto a constantly changing view of the world outside. The clever screens showed footage filmed just outside the arena, creating the illusion that the stage was looking out onto the neighbourhood. Periodically, TransLink buses could be seen passing by, an unexpectedly Vancouver specific detail that made the arena feel intimate.
That sense of intimacy carried into the band’s entrance, with lead singer Daniel Kim stepping onto the stage wearing a UBC Arts cap, a small but memorable nod to the city and its university community.
From the opening notes, Wave to Earth leaned into the warm, laid-back atmosphere that has made their music resonate with fans around the world. The contrast between the arena’s size and the deliberately homey stage design made the show feel like being invited into the band’s living room.
As the opening night of the pieces tour, the Vancouver show set the tone for what promises to be a visually thoughtful and atmospheric run of dates.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
WAVE TO EARTH
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell